Pyrotechnic article



March 11, 1930.

F. s. HAMILTON 1,749,814

PYRO'I ECHNIC ARTICLE Filed Feb. 24, 1928 fizz/612W J. u m

A a 1 m latentecl Mar. 11, 1%39 FFEQ PYROTECHNIC ARTICLE Application filed February 24, 1928.

This invention relates to a pyrotechnic article and more particularly to an article designed to be burned in a fireplace to impart color to the fireplace flame.

5 In general an object of the invention is to provide a novel article of the character described which may be economically manufactured, and is capable of imparting the dedesired color or colors to a fireplace flame for 1 relatively long periods of time.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel article of the character described in which the flame coloring chemical is retained by a novel holding medium of a character such that under the heat of the fire in the fireplace, the flame coloring chemical or chemicals are gradually released, thereby insuring the coloring of the flame for long periods of time without replenishment.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel pyrotechnicarticle in the form of a pine cone which has provision for imparting color to the fireplace fire for relatively long periods of time.

VVit-h these objects in view and such others may hereinafter-appear, the invention consists in the pyrotechnic articles hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing 1 have illustrated one pyrotechnic article embodying the present invention.

The use of flame coloring chemicals in powdered form is known but has been restricted chiefly for the reason that when the chemical in the powdered form was sprinkled upon the burning logs in the fireplace, the chemicals were immediately consumed so that the coloring imparted to the fire lasted at most only a few minutes. The present invention aims to provide a pyrotechnic article which may be used in a fireplace fire. to impart color to the flame for relatively long periods of time. I have discovered that when any of the known flame coloring chemicals are incorporated in a molded plastic body, such for example as a molded body of plaster of cesst'nlly used for coloring the flame of the Paris, the article thus produced may be suc- Serial No. 256,772.

fire. When such an article is introduced into the fireplace fire, under the action of the heat, the plastic material appears to gradually disintegrate, releasing additional quantities of the flame coloring chemical for consumption by the flame, and as a result it has been found that a fireplace flame may be colored for a period of an hour or more by a moderate sized molded plastic body containing the flame coloring chemical.

In addition to the efficiency and utility of the present article in coloring a flame for long periods of time, other advantageous fea tures of the article include the ease with which it may be formed into a large number of different highly attractive shapes, such as a heart, a round elongated stick resembling a miniaturelog, and in fact any other desired shape. These molded articles may be decorated by painting, bronzing, or in any other suitable manner without detracting from the efiiciency of the article for its intended purpose, and such articles find ready sale in gift shops and other stores as novelties as well as for the purpose of coloring fireplace flames.

One particular form in which the novel pyrotechnic article may be produced comprises a granulated product produced by crushing a body of the hardened plastic ma terial such as hardened plaster of Paris in which the flame coloring chemical has been incorporated and such a granulated product may be used as a substitute for the prior art powders and will be found to color the flame for four or five times as long as has been possible with the untreated powders heretofore employed.

The use of pine cones at Christmas time in fireplaces has long been popular, and attempts have been made to impart flame coloring properties to these pine cones. These attempts have included the sprinkling of the chemical powders over the surfaces of the cone as well as an attempt to adhesively affix such chemical powders to the cone by sizing, glue or other adhesive. However, when a cone thus treated was burned in the fire the chemical was soon consumed. I have discovered that the desired flame coloring properties may be advantageously imparted to a pine cone by applying to the cone a body of the plastic material containing the flame coloring chemical. As illustrated in the 5 drawing I produce the improved pine cone by applying the plastic material containing the flame coloring chemical by a spatula or otherwise to the base portion of the cone in the manner illustrated in the drawing. The plaster plaster base may be bronzed or otherwise decorated, as well as the body portion of the cone itself, producing a highly attractive novel pyrotechnic article which may be burned in the fireplace fire with great success.

' 5 While it is preferred to employ plaster of .40 hardened body of plaster of Paris containing Paris as the plastic material, it is to be understood that other plastic materials may be used if desired, and it will also be understood that the plastic'material may assume any desired 2 shape within the scope ofthe followingv claims. Y

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is V l. A pyrotechnic article comprising a body of hardened plastic cementitious material containing a flame coloring chemical.

2. A Y pyrotechnic article comprising a l a molded body of hardened plastic cementitious material having a flame coloring chemical distributed throughout the mass thereof.

3. A pyrotechnic article comprising a pine 1 cone comprising a body of hardened plastic 4 cementitious material containing a flame coloring chemical. i 4:. A pyrotechnic article comprising a pine cone having its base portion provided with a body of hardened plastic cementitious material containing a flame coloring chemical.

5. A pyrotechnic article comprising a a flame coloring chemical.

6. A pyrotechnic article comprising a pine cone having its base portion provided with a body of hardened plaster of Paris containing a flame coloring chemical.

7 A pyrotechnic article comprising a granular body of hardened plastic cementitious material containing a flame coloring chemical.

In testimony whereof I have signel my name to this specification.

' FRANK S.- HAMILTON. 

